Wheel suspension



Nov. v16, 1943. D. K. BmERfr'scr-IER 2,334,597

WHEEL sUsPmsIoN Filed July 21, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 16, 1.943.v o. K. BDERTscHER 2,334,597

WHEEL SUSPENSION Filed July 2l. 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 16, 1943 WHEEL SUsrENsIoN i. Application July 21, 1939, SerialNo. 285,752

1s claims.

This invention relates to motor vehicles'and more particularly to vehicles, such as automobiles.. in which the bodyv is sprung with-respect to certain of the road wheels in such manner that the wheels are capable of yindependent vertical motion. YIn particular the invention relates to such avehicle in which the road wheels are each mountedat the outer ends of upper and lower pivoted control arms with a -coil spring interposed between the lower control'arm and a member of the frame.

An object of the Ainvention is to 'provide a-wheel suspension of the foregoing type in-which the shock absorber extends through the coil load spring and is mounted at opposite ends to 'the lower control armand the framein such'improved manner as to provide maximum efficiency and effectiveness of the shock'absorber in operation while providing a compact structure permitting. ready removal or installation of the shock absorber for service or other purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure-of the foregoing'type in which the shock absorber extends entirely through the load spring and, is detachably aswell as resilientlyA mounted at opposite ends so that the shock absorber may be removed by passing the same bodily down through the lower control arm ofV the suspension or vice versa. A

Otherobjects of thisinvention will appear in the following description and appended claims,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a partfof this specification wherein like reference characters designate correspondlng parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a front end elevation, partly broken away, illustrating an independent fronty wheel suspension for. Tan automobile embodying' the present invention. 1

Fig-2 isan enlarged fragmentary top plan view taken. substantially through lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking'in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3,-risja `verticalsection taken substantially through, lines.3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Fig. 4 is asection taken substantially through lines 4--4 ofFig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially rthrough lines 5-5 of Figf looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Fig.V 6 is an enlarged section taken substantially through lines 6-6 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows. v

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the structure shown in Fig. 5 illustrating the parts preparatory to the installation of the shock absorber.

Fig. 8 is a section taken'substantially through lines 8 8 of Fig. 7 looking.' in the rdirection of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a detail plan Viewy taken .from lines 9--9 0f Fig. 7.

Fig, 10 is a fragmentary'view correspondingin part to Fig. 6 but illustrating a modied mounting for the lower end of'the shock absorber.

Fig. 1-1 is a section taken substantially through. lines'I I-II of Fig. 10 looking in the direction oi the arrows.

Before lexplaining in detail the present inven-r tion it is to be understood that the invention isor terminologyemployed. herein is for the pure pose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended 'to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawings there are illustrated, by way of example, certain embodimentsof the presentl invention as 'applied to an' independentfront wheel suspension for an automotive vehicle. It will be understood that the invention may be ap'- plied also to an independent rear wheel .suspension. The `front wheels I 5 of Vthe vehicle lare mounted upon the vehicle frame for independent movements in a vertical direction. Anysuitable construction maybe utilized for accomplishing the independent mounting of these wheels, one suitable construction of generally conventionalV nature being herein illustrated by way of example. The frame of the vehicle comprises side frame members or sills I 6 which are connected l together at their forward ends vby means of a-,

frame cross member I1 ofhollow generally boxlike construction. Each wheel, I5 is mounted upon the frame for vertical movements through the medium of upper and lower control arms I8. and I9 which are pivotally mounted at their inner ends upon the frame cross member Il. The

outer ends of each` pair of arms I8 and I9 arel pivotallyy connected togetherthrough the medium of a vertically extendingknuckle bracket ISC which carries the kingr pin upon which the wheel I5 is mounted for steering movement.

posed between each of the lower control arms I9` and the outer end of the frame cross membei' I'I is a coil load spring 20. It will be under- Interlstood that the general construction of the upper y andI lower control arms, the knuckle bracket Isc,

iis pressed frornsheet metalr to. provide marginal downwardly extending anging and acentral vupwardly extending embossment 4II providing an annular groove 42 for the reception of the lower end of the coil spring 20.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8A inclusive, the lower reciprocating member 29h of the shockl absorber is connected to the upper marginal flange 4|a of the embossment 4I in improved manner to permit the shock .absorber to be assembled or removed through the bottom of the spring supporting plate 40. In

--the illustrated construction there are provided hollow embossment I1a. see Fig. 4, which'is formed with an opening or aperture 22. A pressed metal reinforcing piece 23 formed at 23a` to fit p within the embossment I1a is spot welded to the inner face of the frame member I1 and'is provided with a flanged aperture 2 4 registering with the aperture 22. The bracket bar 2l has a. lateral offset portion 25, each end of which being formed with a seat 26 resting upon the face o f the embossment I1a and bolted thereto at'21. .Beneath the reinforcing plate 23 is located a spring retainer plate 28 which receives the upper end of the coil load spring 20.

In accordance with the present invention a shock absorber 290i.' the telescopic type is mounted to extend axiallyrthrough the center of each ofthe coil load springs` 20. AThis shockY absorber may be of conventionalV construction having an' upper fixed cylindrical casing 29a and a lower cylindrical orl tubular casing 29h which is tele- -upper and lower clamping plates 43 and v-44 of similar construction but arranged in reverse relaj tion upon the projecting stem or shaft 45 of the shock absorber member 29h. Mounted ,upon the stern 45 above and below the clamping plates 43 and 44. are rubber biscuit assemblies 46 and 41 similar to those previously described. The lower end of the shock absorber may be assembled with ,respect to the clamping -plates 43 and 44 through the medium of a. nut 48 which vmay be` drawn scoped into the upper portion 23a and is adapted to reciprocate therein` this. shockebsorber being of the hydraulic type. and well known in the art. The upper casing member '29a extends freely through the apertures 24 and 22 and is provided with a fixed projecting stern or rod 30 by which the upper end of thershock absorber may be adjustably or detachably mounted. The extension or offset 25 of the bracketl bar 2| is formed l ,intermediate the attaching bolts 21 withwan upwardly extendinghollow extension 3l provided with a central-aperture through which the stem 30`exte'nds. As illustrated inA Figs. 3 .and.`4 two centrally apertured rubber biscuits 32 and' 33 are arranged upon the stem 30 below and above the upper wall of. the hollow boss 3|. these biscuits or bushings'being held by pressed metal retainers 34 and 35, respectively. vThe upperend of the shock absorber is clamped to the boss 3| through the medium of a nut 38 which is drawn down to'place the rubber bushings underrelatively high compression. Thus. .it will be seen that the upper member. 29a of the shock absorber is yieldinglv attached to the boss 3i so as to allow` for small vertical movements'vagainst the resistl.

ance of the rubber members 32 and 33, this boss providing a recess 3.1to receive the upper end of the casing 29a. and also theA lower portionof the rubber mounting. Y

Each bracket bar 2l' to which the upper control ar'xn is pivoted for rockingmovelnents has a third point of attachment to thevembossmenty I1a of the frame cross member I1. comprising mounted in any suitable'n'ianner to thepunderside of the cross framevmember I1, as shown in Fig. l. This lower-control arm is shown as comprising spaced channelshaped side membersy ISa and I9b connected intermediate their ends by a load'spring supporting plate 4I).V The plate 40 up to place the rubber bushings 46 and 41 under compression as illustrated.

-'I'heupper wall of the embossment 4Il is cut away, to provide an elongated vaperture 49, this Vaperture beingsuiiiciently long to accommodate the longerdimension of the clamping or supporting plate 4IIbut havinga shorter dimension substantially less. than the-length of this plate, fas illustrated in Fig. 8. Thus, the plate 43 may-be assembled and arranged uponv the-.upper surface of the flange 4Ia by passing it through the aperture 49. see Fig. 8, and then turning theplate 43 at right angles so as tozoverlie theopposite ilanges Haas shown in Fig. 6; The flanging 4Ia is provided with opposed notches 4Ib adapted toregister withv the threaded-openings in nuts 50 secured as'by welding to the'upper side ofthe plate 43. Withthis plate turnedv to the position shown in Fig. 6 the lower clamping plate 44 may be pressed against the bottom face of the fianging 4Ia and the plates43 and-44 then secured to-Y gether vby bolts 5I passing through notches 4Ib and securedl into nuts 50 to clamp the ilanging 4Ia'.of`. the.l plate. 40, 'firmly between the plates. Thereupon the lower rubber bushing .assembly 41 and the nut 48 may be installed vupon the'end of the spindle 45 and the nut drawnup to complete the final installation as illustrated in Fig. 5.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 is substantially the same as that shown in `Fig..5 with the exception that the clamping'plate 44 is dispensed with and separate clamps :52 substituted therefor. Eachclamp l52 when installed underlaps the flange 4Ia atthe notch 4Ib .and has an inner bent `up flange to'engageA the bottom` faceof. the clampingplate 43. .The installation of the plate 43 in the embodiment ofFlgs. 10

and. 111 is the sameas that previously described,

this plate being clamped. to the .fianging 4Ia through the medium .of thefsmall substantially square clamps 52 and the'bolts 5I which pass therethroughand also through the notches 4Ib.

Thus,v it will be seen that the shock absorbery the spring and frame, a bracket on the top of the framelfor pivo'tally supporting the upper pair of arms and having an apertured hollow boss, and a stem on the shock absorberextending through the aperture inthe bossand resi'liently secured thereinat a point intermediate the inner ends` of said upper pair or control arms.

.14; In a motor vehicle having a frame, a lower control arm pivotedl at its'inner end to the frame,

an upperf control arm, a bracket attached to the 4 top of the frame for pivotally supporting the inner end of, the-upper control arm, a road wheel mounted at the outer ends of the control'arms, a coil load spring interposed between the lower arm and frame, a telescopicishock absorber'extending. through said spring, a plate carried by the lower arm to.receive the lower'endofjthe springsaid bracket having an upwardly extending hollow embossment to receive the upper end of the shock absorberend provided lwith an aperture through which the upper'end of the shock absorber extends, cushioning means interposed betweenihe shock absorber and bracket within said embossment.' said plate having an aperture v therein through which the shock absorber maybe passed bodily to install or remove the same, and

means for yieldingly and detachabl'y securing the lower-end of the shock absorber to the plate.

15. Angautomotive wheelsu'spension comprising a frame with a cross member having a dome pressed upwardly froml the end thereof, an upper v l control arm pivoted tosaid dome; a lower control arm pivoted -to said frame, a support arm pivoted between ythe endsof said control arms, a'coilv spring *positioned between said'frameand said lower control arm, and a strut type shock absorber positioned between said dome and saidflower control arm, said shock absorber being located within said coil spring. l

'16. An automotive -wheel I,suspension comprising a frame .with a cross member having a dome pressed upwardly from, the end thereof, a pivot member secured tosaid dome, an upper control arm pivoted to said pivot member, la lower control arm pivoted to said cross member, a support arm pivotedwbetween the ends of said control arms, a coil spring positioned betwen said frame and said lower control arm, and a strut type shock absorber extending between saiddome and said lower control arm and located within said coil spring. 'f y 417. An automotive wheel suspension comprising a frame including a cross member having a dome pressedupwardly from the end thereof, a pivot member rigidly secured to saiddome, a bifurcated upper control arm having its ends pivoted to the ends of said pivot member, a lower control'armfpivoted to said cross member, a support arm pivoted between the ends of said control arms, a coil spring positionedbetween said frame and said lower control arm, and a shock absorber extending, between said .dome and said lower controlarm and located 4within said coil spring.

18.*An` automotive wheel suspension comprising a front cross frame member having an aperture in the upper outer end thereof, a bracket rigidly secured to the top of the frame member and overlying said aperture, said bracket having an aperture above said rst aperture, a pivot member xed tosaid bracket and extending transversely to said frame member, a bifurcatedI control arm having its ends pivoted to the nds of said pivot member, acoil spring having its upper end. operatively engaging said frame member, a shock absorber located within said spring, the upperl end of the.. shock absorber extending through said apertures and yieldingly connected to the bracket at 'the locality of the said aperture therein.

' DANA' K. vBADERTSCIIER. 

